Make And Save A Template For The iPad

Document creation on tablets is growing as they become more of a content creation device.

Do you have a document that you would like to use as a template for the iPad 

By using Dropbox or Skydrive you can achieve this.

First make your document / spreadsheet / presentation on your iPad and get it how you need it

Then open up the Share and Print icon from the Tools menu

From here select Open In Another App

Then choose the format of your document

Next choose your App

From here we will choose Dropbox

Press save to Dropbox 

This will then upload the file into your Dropbox account 

This will upload this file into your Dropbox account and now you can use this as a template

What To Do When Taking Your Smartphone / Tablet Overseas

Phones are all about turning off data roaming on your current phone so your apps don’t dial out and you don’t access those apps from your “ current sim “and end up on Today Tonight with a massive phone bill due to data charges.

First when leaving - Turn off cellular data

Phones need to be unlocked , this needs to be done at least a week before you go

Options For Making Phone Calls 

Purchase a local sim card in the country you are visiting , then redirect your phone number to your new number

Purchase a travel sim from Australia - 3 travel sims that you can get

TravelSIM is designed for occasional travellers to swap into their phones while overseas, which means they can't be contacted via the Australian number. To make a call you dial the number, the phone hangs up and then the TravelSIM service calls you back and connects the call. It sounds complicated but you soon get the hang of it. It's a pre-paid service with no monthly fee, but your credit expires if you haven't made a call for six months.

TruSim

Meanwhile Truphone's Tru SIM is targeted at regular travellers who want to use the same SIM and phone number when at home and abroad. The Tru SIM is pre-paid, although Truphone also offers post-paid plans for business users.
Tru SIM isn't a callback service like TravelSIM, so you can make calls the way you normally would. You can port your existing Australian mobile number to your Tru SIM, plus you can add a US or UK number to the same SIM for an extra $8 per month.

Woolworths Global Roaming Sim 

Global roaming sim which includes data for apps , email etc - 1GB data is $21

Take Your Own Internet With You

Buy a portable WIFI Hotspots where you can connect up to 5 devices.

When you look at the cost of hotel wifi in some London hotels $8 an hour to $20 - $30 a day , this can be a far better option 

There is also the McDonalds and coffees shop wifi but security is much better with your own connection .

Your own internet connection can be Ideal for maps , Google maps or Apple maps

which come with turn by turn navigation – ideal for holidays so you don't get lost.

Flash - Time To Give It Up On Tablets

I am always asked about Flash on tablets.

Flash does not run on the iPad or the new Android tablets and Adobe will only allow access to Flash on Android devices that already had Flash Player installed and will not support Flash from Android 4.1 onwards.

Adobe implemented this from Aug 15th 2012 - you can read their press release HERE

If you are looking at watching TV or playing certain games , on your iPad or Android device, which on a computer you would watch or play through the internet browser , you will need to go to their app or download the game and not use the internet browser.

There are some ways to watch flash on these tablets but with the constant changes to software , they may not be a long term solution.

Erase Your Old iPad Or iPhone Before You Sell It Or Give It Away

If you have an old iPhone or iPad and you are updating to a new one , say the iPhone 5 or if rumours are to be believed a new iPad in April and want to sell it or give it away , how do you wipe your data and information.

1. To do this go to " Settings" , then "General"
2. Pan to the bottom and you will see " Reset"
3. Then tap " Erase All Content and Settings"

Your iPad or iPhone will restart after a while and be just like the day it came out the box.  

Learn About The Microsoft Surface

Microsoft have released a Surface manual in PDF version which talks about the Surface RT and the Surface Pro.

The manual describes the setup and use of both the Surface RT and the Surface Windows 8 Pro 

Download the PDF from here: Surface getting Started Guide

If you are thinking about one it is worth reading the PDF before purchase

What Is The Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro Like ?

The Microsoft produced Surface will soon be available in Australia and will it be the tablet / laptop for you.

If the Surface is to be judges on the Surface RT it will be a well made computer which runs the full version of Windows 8 but unlike the Surface RT it does not have Office 2013 included. 

I like the Surface RT and consider it ideal for those seeking a basic tablet / laptop experience in a locked down environment which more people should consider as many cannot cope with a full version of Windows.

More information can be found here

Click Here: Surface Windows 8 Pro Site

So what do the reviews say about the Surface , here is a selection of the reviews:

Paul Thurrott SuperSite Review

CNET Surface Pro Review

Business Insider Surface Pro Review

All Things Digital

NY Times David Pogue

PowerFM Segment For 6th Feb

On this week in Technology

United States President Bill Clinton in 1994 signs the Communications Decency Act into law which tried to regulate pornographic content on the Internet. It was voted down as it was seen as trying to curtail free speech.

Discussion Points

Microsoft Office

There is a new version of Microsoft Office out Office 2013 

Only available for those that are running Windows 7 or Windows 8

There is also a subscription version - Office 365 - valid for a year and lets you install it on 5 computers – this is $119 a year 

The new Office is all about sharing and storing your documents online and on your computer with Skydrive

Click here to find out all about Microsoft Office 2013

Microsoft Surface

The new Microsoft Surface should be out this week which runs a full version of Windows 8 

Click here to find out all about the Surface

iPad News

A 128GB iPad has been released this week

Click here to find out details of the new iPad 

Apple v Android Security

Apple devices are safer due to the procedures Apple use to get apps added to the App store.

Android devices can represent a security risk due to the " open nature " of the platform and that apps can be installed from a variety of sources.

Click here for a report on Android Security

App Of The Week

The Chihuly App , glass blowing on the ipad / iphone

Click here for a link to the Chihuly App

FiveAA Segment For 30th Jan

Online Security  

Stems from a laptop I saw during the week that claimed all the documents had been locked by the Australian Federal police

They could not access their documents or files – asked for $300 to be paid to a Western Union account - do not do this and if you are the victim of this get your computer to someone who can help you.

How did his occur?

• Software and operating system was not up to date
• Then clicked a link in an email which was Infected with this ransom virus

How Do You Stop This Happening?

• Keeping the operating system up to date is your first line of defence
• Be suspicious of emails – do you positively know that the email is not fake 
• Do not respond to emails from banks , phone companies , parcel deliveries , claims of a lottery win ,ebay receipts ,western union messages , they do not send you emails
• Never enter your credit card details into a link from an email
• Never click on any link in an email that asks you to install software or open a word document or a PDF file
• Lastly keep your antivirus up to date

What is safer , Windows computers or Apple computers ?

Apple computers with Mountain Lion have a setting which will only allow software to run that has been downloaded from the Mac App store and identified developers

Windows computers will ask you if you want to run the software however people blindly just let this happen , when in doubt don't.

Both are safe its the user that has the issues.

What portable device is safer to use ?

Security experts advise that Apple devices are safer to use on the internet than Android devices - Experts Say Cyber Security Centre Well Overdue

Android devices have been known to share and transmit personal data

Is It Safe To Do Online banking on a portable device?

• Don’t do it on an open wifi network , internet café , coffee shops
• Use your phones data connection if you need to

Tip Of The Week

If you are buying a new Windows 8 computer do not be pressured into buying antivirus software before you leave the store , it is already built into the Windows 8 operating system

Tablets Rise In Sales While Windows 8 Tries To Establish Itself

As we look back on 2012 there are 2 big stories.

The highlight for the year is the growth in the sales of tablets which are expected to top 122 million according to IDC 

The other is Windows 8 trying to establish itself as the operating system of choice.

We saw 3 iPads this year from Apple , tablets from Google , Samsung , other manufacturers and of course the Microsoft Surface , their first computer.

Tablet users who truly understand how to use their device know that they can get the vast majority of their work achieved with their device and a knowledge of how to use the cloud.

In 2012 the tablet moved from content consumption to content creation.

In 2013 we look for the release of Office for tablets which has been widely rumoured and will be the app that defines the catagory in the workplace. 

2012 saw the introduction of the highly anticipated Windows 8 

Microsoft decided to introduce a touch based operating system for computers and tablets , whether you had a touch based computer or not.

Windows 7 was the best operating system Microsoft had produced and while there are many things to like about Windows 8 , security for one , the learning curve and the implementation of a touch based operating system on a traditional computer appears too much for some people. Even the head of Windows Product Development claims it takes a couple of weeks to get used to it.

Computer and laptop sales have stagnated in recent years and with the rise of netbooks , Windows 8 has proved not an incitement to get people to buy a new computer but it is gaining traction.

Consumers and businesses appear reluctant to change and in business changes to operating systems takes time but consumers should take the time to learn the benefits.

If speculation is to be believed Microsoft will release a new version of Windows every year - Windows Blue.

Lets remember Microsoft is not a software company anymore , it is a "devices and services" company and as their range of computers , software and hardware grows so will the acceptance of changes to the operating system.

From a personal point of view the more I use windows 8 the more I like it.

Revisit Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface has been released in more stores now apart from still being able to buy it online from Microsoft.

I have written about the Surface before - Thoughts On Microsoft Surface but highlighted the lack of apps and the notable app for me was Dropbox which I gave me the ability to access files from my other computers , however Dropbox is now available for the  Surface from the Windows store.

Paul Thurrott has also released a graphic highlighting the features of the Surface .

FiveAA Segment For 3rd Jan

Today we were discussing , computers , mobile phones , tablets and children.

Here are 10 points from the discussion.

1. Mobile phones / tablets are computers , powerful one's , and they are an internet device
2. All modern operating systems come with parental controls , learn about them , this applies to tablets , phones , and computers
3. Put computers in a public place in the house , especially for younger children
4. Make children accounts with limited access then they cannot install programs without you supplying the password.
5. If the children want and or need a password make sure you and they know the password , too complicated and it can end in tears
6. Learn what Open DNS can do for you
7. Facebook is for 13 years old and above
8. If you are a parent LEARN about social media / facebook , too many times we here “ if only “
9. Anything you do on social media ( facebook / twitter is public unless you make it private)
10. You don’t need to be friends with everyone in life , the same applies to social media , you can unfriend , block people

Setup Your New Computer / Device

At his time of the year Lifehacker update their posts on what to do when you have bought a new:

• Apple Computer - Setup and get to know your new Mac 
• Windows Computer - Setup and get to know your new Windows Computer
• iPhone / iPad - Setup and get to know your new iPhone / iPad / iPod
• Android - Setup and get to know your new Android Device

There is some great advice here.

Turn On Personal Hotspot On iPhone5 & iOS6

I was asked on 5AA this week about how to turn on the personal hotspot on the iPhone 5 in with iOS6.

Personal hotspot is used to create a wifi network so you can connect to the internet through the iPhone using a Wifi device like a tablet , iPad etc or even a laptop.

So how do you do this?

Go to " Settings"

Then " General "

Then "Cellular"

Then " Turn On Personal Hotspot "

For more information on Personal Hotspot check out this article from GottaBeMobile

5AA Spot For 13th Nov

Today on 5AA I discussed :

Microsoft Surface 

Toolbars & Add Ons In Browsers

If you install toolbars and add ons in browsers it can impact upon the correct functioning of the browser and can impact upon Windows Update running correctly.

Uninstall them through Programs and Features in the Control Panel or by using Geek Uninstaller and then reset Internet Explorer .

Reset Internet Explorer 

It’s Update Tuesday Tomorrow

Microsoft have patches tomorrow for Windows – lots of patches

Windows update is your first line of defence against getting a virus 

Check for updates tomorrow manually in case you need some optional updates which can trigger off automatic updates.

Do You Ever Check For Updates On Your Devices

iPads / iPhones / iTunes / Android Tablets , all get updates 

Call Of Duty 4 , Black Ops 2 

Is out today 

Power FM Spot For 7th Nov

On This Week In Technology

2002

In New York, Microsoft officially unveils the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system.

Shows how long tablets have been around and this week is the week that the Microsoft Surface orders arrive 

Talking Points

Installing Windows 8 on an old computer , here are some tips 

• Backup all your data
• Get all the software you want to install ready
• Windows XP or Vista , restore your computer to factory settings using the discs you received with the computer or the inbuilt restore function  
• You may need additional drivers for devices on your computer so make sure you know the make and go to the manufacturers site and download from there

Android

It is also 6 years of the Android operating system 

The Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council ( CCAAC ) ( impressive name ) is having an enquiry into dodgy apps 

More than 100,000 Android apps in the Google play store pose a security risk 

• This includes accessing GPS location data ( these include wallpapers , games , utilities )
• Accessing phone calls or phone numbers
• Accessing personal data such as contacts and or email

Mashable article On Google Apps 

App Of The Week

Spot The International Space station 

Sign up on this site and NASA will send you an email when the International Space Station will appear overhead.

5AA Spot For 6th Nov

Tablet Sales

If you still need further proof that tablet computers are growing in popularity lets look at some facts 

Tablet sales grew in the last quarter July – Sept 

• 49% over last year 
• 6.7% over the last quarter Apr – June 

And 27.8 million tablets sold worldwide 

The 2 big players are Apple at 50% of the sales and Samsung at 18%

Apple sales dipped in that quarter but the iPad mini sales and the iPad sales in the first 3 days of their release ( 3 million ) will probably see there market share rise , however it is the Microsoft Surface sales that a lot will be interested in.

Halo 4 , Call Of Duty 

Halo 4 is out today and call Of Duty will be out next week , if you are buying any of these games as a present at Christmas time make sure you buy the correct one 

Internet Explorer

IE is an integral part of Windows and the way it works , if you have filled it with toolbars that are basically malware then Windows Update will not function correctly.

So what do you do ?

Uninstall the toolbars first , try the free version ( not the paid version of Geek Uninstaller ) and use the " Force Removal Mode " which gets rid of registry entries.

Geek Uninstaller

Then reset internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer

Then try Windows Update again , you may have to run a Microsoft Fixit if things do not work

Microsoft Fixit Windows Update

Will You Buy A Microsoft Surface ?

On a week of tech announcements , the Microsoft Surface will start shipping on friday and the question is will you buy one .

I have ordered one so I look forward to giving a review next week but there a few areas  that you need to consider before buying one.

• Apps - there are currently only about 7000 with the promise of more to come: Neowin Windows 8 Apps  
• Windows RT - this is a mobile operating system not Windows 8 but is designed for mobile devices , you will only be able to run pre installed apps or apps that you get from the Windows Store ( no Photoshop , Outlook etc )

So what are other reviewers saying about it

• New York Times - David Pogue
• WSJ  - Walt Mossberg
• Gizmodo
• Wired
• Techcrunch

Power FM Spot For 24th Oct

On This Week In Technology

Windows XP was released in 2001 

Discussion Points

Apple Announcements

Apple made announcements overnight which may take a bit of the gloss from the Microsoft announcement on Friday with Windows 8

• The iPad mini - ideal for games , books , it will be available from the 2nd Nov , designed to compete with the smaller tablets on the market from Google and Amazon
• It's 7.2mm thin and weighs 308grams
• The iPad has been updated with the new A6x processor , the one from the new iPhone 5 , dont buy an iPad without this or make sure you are saving some money by getting a discount on the old / new iPad 
• Apple announced that they have just sold their 100millionth iPad , Tim Cook said "We sold more iPads in the June quarter than any PC manufacturer sold of their entire PC line-up!”

Apple have also updated their computer line up with new iMacs and mac minis

Windows 8

Windows 8 is coming on Friday along with Microsoft Surface , the Microsoft iPad competitor

Windows RT will also be on mobile devices , looks the same as Windows 8 but it is different , confused , so is everyone 

With Windows 8 you can install all your traditional applications ( Outlook , Photoshop etc ) and apps from the Windows Store

Windows RT can only run Apps which are preinstalled on the device or that you buy from the Windows Store

App Of The Week 

Blower Real Air

This app when installed will blow air out of the iPhone , iPad and iPod

Download Blower Real App Here 

5AA Spot For 23rd Oct

THE BIG TECH EVENTS THIS WEEK

Friday: Windows 8 is out , Windows 8 is for computers / laptops

Friday: Microsoft Surface is officially released running Windows RT and which you can order from Microsoft. 

Apple announcement Oct 24th iPad mini and other assorted announcements

Google announcement Oct 29th – tablet and or phone will be coming 

Lets Talk Windows 8

1. Windows 8 is a tablet based operating system that also runs traditional computers as well – works best on touch based computers / tablets but also works with keyboard and mouse.

2. Windows 8 has an interface composed of rectangular tiles and, on some devices, a touch screen, no start menu 

3. Windows 8 you can download, install traditional applications / programs 

4. Windows RT on devices ( tablets ) & Windows 8 look at first glance exactly the same but they are not.

5. Windows RT has an interface composed of rectangular tiles and is the tablet based operating system for ARM devices 

6. Windows RT is not a computer operating system. Windows RT is an operating system for mobile devices. Windows RT runs the Microsoft Surface tablet.

7. Applications and programs for Windows RT will be bundled with the device or can only be downloaded from the Windows Store , that's all 

8. Windows RT devices will have better battery life, lighter weight, cheaper price points

9. However there will be mobile devices / tablets that will run Windows 8 the full version on which you can download and install anything you want.

10. Confused by the difference then you are not alone.

11. You can upgrade from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 8, download Microsoft's compatibility assistant tool, which will pinpoint the programs on your old operating system that won't work on Windows 8

12. Pricing $69 for Windows Pro / $14 to upgrade 

13. Windows 8 comes with built in antivirus / malware software – you do not need to buy anything else , but you could if you wanted to.

14. Windows 8 also has an advanced boot system that will prevent advanced malware & rootkits from causing damage when starting the computer.

15. You can refresh your copy of Windows 8 which will restore the operating system and leave all your documents , pictures etc intact.

16. There is no Start button with Windows 8 but there are some apps you can download to get the same start as Windows 7 

17. There is no built in DVD Playback in Windows 8 however you could use a program like VLC

18. There is no built in DVD maker with Windows 8 

19. Windows 8 devices start very quickly 

20. Should you upgrade – if on Windows 7 , there is no reason – Windows Vista ( maybe ) or Windows XP ( check to see if it will run ) 

5AA Spot For 2nd Oct

APPLE MAPS & IOS6 ISSUES

Tim Cook this week apologised for the Apple Maps fiasco and comments were made that this sort of error would not have happened while Steve Jobs was there are a bit inaccurate as under Steve Jobs we had :

• The Early MobileMe issues

• iPhone4 and the antenna gate issue

• The original iPhone had its price cut soon after release angering those that had already bought it 

This weeks Apple Maps mistake:

• The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is situated at Dulwich Ave , Dulwich

iOS 6 ISSUES

For those that switched and updated their iPhones and iPads to the new operating system iOS 6 you maybe experiencing a couple of issues

• Wifi not connecting to the network – reset your network settings on your device and reenter your log on details and you can also change your network name.

• Battery life not lasting as long as it used to – reset all settings and stop all running apps and reboot your device

WINDOWS 8 WILL BE RELEASED OCT 26TH

Windows 8 is a tablet operating system on a desktop , works well with touch but the jury is well and truly out 

• The biggest change to Windows since 3.1 to Windows 95

• No start button 

• The touchpad is coming with companies making these instead of the computer mouse Exit The Mouse